Articles by Roger

We often consume cucumbers as a topping for salads or in the form of a pickle, but this fruit is packed with many nutrients that should makes want to find more ways to incorporate it into our diets. Cooking and juicing cucumbers have grown in popularity as more people realize the health benefits that it can provide. It contains a number of components that are good for our health and also help protect the body from different ailments. Including this fruit (yes, technically it is considered a fruit) in some of your juicing recipes can have a significant positive impact for you.

Health Benefits

Cucumbers are 95% water, which is the most essential component of the body as it helps the body function properly. Every process in the body needs water to run smoothly, be it digestion or cleansing. Cucumbers have high water content and therefore are a good way to ensure your body is always hydrated. This diuretic fruit also helps the body get rid of toxins through urination. In fact, according to some research, cucumber consumption on a daily basis can aid in kidney stone dissolution.

Vitamins and Minerals

Cucumbers also contain numerous vitamins and minerals, each of which comes with its own nutritional and health benefits. The alkalinity of the minerals like potassium, magnesium, phosphorus for example helps in neutralizing the body’s acidity. In a world where fast foods are the in thing in our too busy schedules, incorporation of this vegetable in the diet, will ensure body pH is always at the required level. Another important mineral component of this vegetable is silica, which promotes construction of connective tissues such as muscles, cartilage, bones, ligaments and tendons. Silicon and sulphur minerals are known to stimulate hair growth and shininess.

Like the other members of the cucurbitaceae family, this vegetable is also a rich source of vitamin A, B, C, D and E, otherwise known as cucurbitacins. All these vitamins are highly under scrutiny for their anti-cancer properties. In fact, scientists have established that cucurbitacins activities can block different signaling pathways required for cancer cell development and survival. Moreover, vitamins A, B and C boost body immunity as well as energy levels.

Cucumbers contain three types of lignans (lariciresinol, pinoresinol and secoisolariciresinol) which have been researched for a long period as possible cures for different types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

In addition, cucumber extracts have recently been established to have both anti- inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is a common ingredient in most beauty products that are geared towards treating acne, eczema or other skin conditions due to its anti-oxidant nutrients including vitamin C, Manganese and beta-carotene. It also contains minerals that are naturally good for the skin like potassium and silicon.

Too much body water retention can also be taken care of by eating cucumber. It has the necessary electrolytes that restore hydration of the body cells hence reducing water retention. Puffy eyes are a result of too much water retention in the body, putting two slices of fresh cucumber on the eyes for ten to twenty minutes reduces the puffiness. It’s skin can also act as a sunburn healer, besides its cooling effect.

Weight Loss

Cucumber is also recommended for weight loss diets and is good for the digestive system. It has high digestible fiber and water content , both of which are good ingredients for weight loss. It contains a substance called sterols that helps reduce cholesterol level. Moreover, the vegetable itself contains low calories and zero cholesterol.

Blood Sugar

Another health benefit of cucumber is that it is good for blood sugar regulation. It has a special hormone that is needed by the pancreas cells for insulin production; it is therefore healthy and highly recommended for diabetic patients. Potassium, sodium, magnesium and fiber contents of this vegetable are also responsible for making it a good blood sugar regulator.

As you can see, cucumbers have numerous potential benefits that you should try and take advantage of. Juicing this fruit should be no sweat for any of the top rated juicers on our list. Both masticating and centrifugal juicers will be able to get the most out of this wonderful produce and deliver all of its goodness into your glass. For a refreshing example of a juicing recipe that includes cucumber check out this video below.

There is nothing so fulfilling like drinking juice directly extracted from raw green leafy vegetables. This is one sure way of ensuring you have taken nutrients by bulk without overwhelming your digestive system. The Omega NC800 is the 6th generation of masticating juicer made by Omega. Omega is one of the most renowned juicer makers in the world. According to Omega, this brand of juicer comes with a lot of improvements that are going to take juicing to a whole new level. The Omega newest single gear masticating juicer extractor operates at a low speed of approximately 80RPM. It also has a 150-watt motor which often drives the solid auger made of GE Ultem materials. Such an auger gives you the privilege of juicing any fruit or vegetable no matter how hard they are. These new improvements have resulted in a machine that produces 12% more juice from the same amount of produce than the previous models. Below are some of the features of this juicing workhorse including its pros and cons and other recommendations.

Features Included in the Omega NC800

It has a low speed masticating juice extraction which runs at only 80RPM.

It has the following dimensions: 14.5 by 6.5 by 15.5 and only weighs 20 pounds

This masticating juicer comes with a 15 year warranty which means that in case anything goes wrong within the warranty period, Omega is going to take care of it at no cost for a period of up to 15 years.

The NC800 has three pasta nozzles which are an adjustable nozzle, a pasta nozzle and a bread stick nozzle. It also comes with a screen for the juice and another screen for the solid food.

It makes use of 110 volts at 60 Hz and is set with 3 pronged grounded cords.

Just like the other Omega juicers, it makes use of a gear reduction motor which is equivalent to 2HP that spins the auger at 80rpm

Has a black plate which helps you to make healthy all natural sorbets nut butter and baby food.

Providing excellent versatility, it is also capable of grinding coffee, nuts to make butter among many other things.

This latest generation masticating juice extractor has been very popular with owners and that is reflected in customer feedback. Studying the latest juicer reviews shows just how well the NC800 ranks among other juicer machines. If you are looking for an easy way to turn around your diet then this is one small kitchen appliance worth considering.

Pros

Produce the highest yield possible

Omega NC800 extracts 25% more juice compared to the 8004 which is perfect given the fact that 8004 was already popular for being one of the best green leafy extractors in the market today. One of the key players to bring the above difference was the bigger juicing screen and the adjustable end cap. The larger screen lets more juice to flow through and at the same time, the adjustable end cap gives you the opportunity to squeeze more juice from the greens.

Easier to clean

It will take you 3- 5 minutes to clean the machine completely. The Omega NC800 has the auger, juice screen, drum and hopper which are easier to assemble and take apart compared to a vertical style auger juicer such as Hurom HU-100. The auger and the screen are also narrow and lack recess points where pulp can get and get stuck.

Has a long warranty

The Omega NC800 has a 15 year warranty which is enough for you to use before purchasing another juicer.

Fairly quiet

Unlike other types of juicers, the Omega NC800 is fairly quiet and you will realize this when you start using it.

BPA free

Even though this is not included in their product description, I made a follow up and they confirmed that the Omega NC800 is BPA free.

Longer juice storage

Given the fact that this is a slow juicer which rotates at a slow 80rpm, it does not produce too much heat and introduce oxygen to your juice. You are also able same time store this juice for a period of up to 72 hours in a refrigerator. In order to get the best results, always ensure you store the juice in a glass container such as a mason jar and over fill it so that it does not have any air packets inside which can oxidize the juice.

Cons

Slow

Even though the slow juicing mechanism has a number of advantages, the record still remains that it is slow than other juicers.

Pre-cutting Veggies

This juicer has the widest of any of the Omega Horizontal masticating juicers meaning that less produce needs to be cut to fit into the feed chute. However, when you use produce with long fibers, they will still need to be diced otherwise the long fibers will wind around the slow auger ending up clogging it.

Final Verdict

Even though it is not the cheapest juicer available, the Omega NC800 gives you extreme value for the money. The added improvements to this line has really made almost the perfect juicing machine. A wider feed chute really comes in handy and helps save time, which is something that every slow juicer could benefit from. This masticating juice extractor represents a significant advance in juicing tech and is something that can provide you with years of reliable juicing.

Now before we get to that New Year’s resolution of getting ourselves to eat better and exercise more, let’s have one last gluttonous experience to cleanse our self of our decadent desires. Some of the recipes below do have some health ingredients, but if you stuff your face it will kind of defeat the whole purpose.

For this exercise you are going to need a toaster oven. If you do not own one of these then you may be missing out on an opportunity to make quick and delicious meals in half the time and with a fraction of the energy costs of a full sized cooking oven. Before buying one of these small appliances for your kitchen you can check out current toaster oven reviews at http://www.gouverneurtimes.com to see which models are the best on the market. Here are just a few examples of some of the things that you could be doing with one of these top countertop ovens. They certainly can do a lot more than just make toast.

Fast and Simple Toaster Oven Recipes

My personal favorite toaster oven recipe is the good ol’ tortilla chip sandwiches. Many toaster ovens have a little pan that can be placed right onto one of the racks. Pull this out and spray it down with some cooking oil. Place a tortilla chip on the pan and load it up with your favorite taco toppings. I like to plop some refried beans and spicy tomato salsa on top. Then, just as a finishing touch, I carefully add a few jalapeno peppers. Once you’re satisfied with your filling, squash another tortilla chip over top of everything. Make as many of these sandwiches as you can fit on the pan and then throw it in your toaster oven. Set the temperature to about 350 and only keep them in long enough to heat everything up.

S’mores

While we’re on the subject of sandwiches, let’s talk about s’mores! That’s right, you can even make a few s’mores in your toaster oven as a delicious dessert. Or, in my case, a reward for a nice, long run. Assemble them just as you would as you stand over a campfire. Just make sure you leave the top graham cracker off for now. Toast those puppies up until the marshmallows develop a brilliant golden brown color. Then top it off with your final cracker and chow down!

Say Cheese

S’mores are just one example of toaster oven twist on a classic. Did you know you can even make grilled cheese sandwiches in your little oven-toaster hybrid? Just pretend you’re cooking up some of that cheesy goodness on the oven top, just throw it in your mini version instead. Make sure you pay close attention to where the heat is concentrated, however, or else you may get some strange toasting.

Let’s Go Nuts

Let’s get off this sandwich trip and delve into something more creative. For those of you who love toasted nuts, a toaster oven has you handled in a quarter of the time it takes to make these healthy treats in a normal oven. Experimentation is key here but I do suggest you try out a recipe with a special chocolate twist. Lay a baking liner on your pan and spread some unsalted, raw cashews on the pan in a single layer. Let that toast up for about eight minutes at a temperature of 350. Meanwhile, mix up cocoa powder, powdered sugar and just a touch of salt in a large bowl. While the nuts are still nice and warm, dump them in your mixture and toss them about. These will keep for about a week.

Something Smells Fishy

Who says you can’t go a little gourmet with a toaster oven? This next recipe will prove those nay-sayers wrong! How does some glazed salmon sound? Get your salmon marinated in a mixture of miso, sake (which is a type of Japanese wine), soy sauce, oil and sugar for a minimum of a half hour. Once the salmon is nice and flavored, crank up your toaster oven’s broiler to high. Cover the pan with aluminum foil, rub the extra marinade off the salmon and place that fish right on the foil. Broil for about five minutes are until the top is beautifully charred.

Let’s Do A Little Italian Food

I’ve got one more recipe for you. This is sure to be a hit for you and the whole family. I know this because I lived off this particular recipe when I was a kid. Grab some bagels and rip them apart. Spray down your toaster oven pan and plop the bagel halves on top, flat side up. Grab some tomato sauce and spread it evenly over the bread. Then sprinkle a bit (or a lot) of cheese on the sauce. You can even throw Parmesan cheese on there for some added flavor. Finish it off with your favorite pizza toppings: pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers or (in my case) some jalapeno peppers. Plop your creation in the toaster oven until the cheese is melted and everything is nice and cozy warm.

There you have it! Once you’ve finished making all these recipes in your nifty toaster oven, you and that strange mini oven will have developed a special bond. One of the models that we recommend is the Breville BOV800XL (click here for a full review). t is a full powered smart oven that can handle a whole host of cooking chores. For another great recipe that you can use to cook a delicious meal in your toaster oven, check out this fantastic video below.

Having a kid is a real game changer. All of a sudden your life takes on a different perspective as you not only have yourself to take care of but a new precious young one to take care of as well. While it may be hard to find the time, being proactive about your health can enable you to be there for all of the important years of your child’s life for decades to come. This is why a lot of parents looking into purchasing a jogging stroller, for the health aspects. However, there are other benefits to getting a running stroller. Below are just some of the positives to getting out there on the road (or sidewalk) with your children.

Benefits of Jogging Strollers

After scouring online for the best jogging stroller reviews, it is clear to see that this type of child exercise equipment is not going to be for everyone. First they can be on the expensive side and they are not all too budget friendly. Second, it actually takes time and energy to make use of these, something that young children tend to drain out of you. If you can somehow find the motivation to get out of the house then you can take full advantage of this activity.

Positive Health

This is the obvious prime benefit for parents. Running, jogging, and even walking at a brisk pace elevates the heart rate and increases oxygen intake in the body. It uses stored calories and burns fat. Aerobic exercise is terrific for the heart. This type of activity also releases certain chemicals in the brain that help reduce stress and leave you with a better feeling of overall well being. It helps not only the body, but it also helps the mind. Nothing new here.

Teaching Kids Healthy Habits

Children with parents that are active are prone to be more active themselves. You are an example to your kids everyday, and if you are out and about trying to take care of yourselves, your little ones will follow suit. This not only goes for exercise, but for diet as well. Take your children out for a ride in a jogging stroller is a wonderful way to introduce them to the world and have them see that Mom and Dad take their health seriously. This can have lifelong effects that stay with your child. They in turn may be more apt to be health conscious when they are older.

Outdoor Adventure

In the computer and game age, it is hard to find something that gets your kids out of the house. Starting them at a young age to enjoy the outdoors is a great way to introducing them to high activity fun. Toddlers and infants love to ride in these strollers and go on their own adventure with whoever is pushing them. Getting fresh air is also good for them and is a great alternative to sitting in a chair for hours at a time.

Family Activity

Doing things together, even it is just a jog around the block can have tremendous positive impact on children. The sense of family is imprinted at an early age and the bond of doing something together can have a lasting impact. They also feel a sense of inclusion as they get to come along with their parents. It may seem like a little thing to you, but it is probably a big thing to them. There are plenty of inventive outdoor family activities that you can do with your children, jogging is just one of them.

Are Running Strollers Worth It?

If you have the budget for one of these, then it would definitely be worth considering. It may seem like an overpriced piece of equipment, but a jogging stroller can have many long lasting benefits on your health as well as your child’s health and well-being. The hard part is finding the time and the motivation to do it. For parents looking to regain their youth and get back into shape then this is something that can have several benefits for the entire family. Running strollers can be an investment that continues to pay off for years to come.